Switch stand



Patented Mar., 6, 11923.,

rneNN c. ANDERSON, or CINCINNATI, OHIO.

" swr'ron- STAND.

Application filed NovemberiG, 1922. `Serial No.` 599,354.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be Vit known that l, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio,- have invented certain'l new and useful improvements in Switch Stands, of which the Jfollowing is a specification.'

My invention relates to ground-lever"Y parallel-throw switch-stands` in general; and' in certain respects 1t relates more particuand larly tothe switch-standdisclosed claimed in my Patent No; 1,427,082, dated August 29, 1922. y

lts object is to simplifythe constructionr and operation of switch-stands oithis chai'- acter,` and to eii'ect economy in their main.- tenance; especially to provide means for quick repair in` conjunction with use of a breakable .switch-throwing crank for prof#l tecting the mechanism oi the switchfstand andV the switch in case the switch is run through in the wrong direction, which breakable cranks are well known in the art, and to insure the making Vof this repair' vcorrectly, even bypan unskilled workman, thus avoiding the danger of disconnection osuch a breakable-crank mechanism incorrectly or y incompletelyl connected. Other objects, `peculiar to the present invention, as well as inl common with those of the vmentioned patent,

will appear in the course-ofthe ensuing description.

l attain trated, for example, in the accompanying drawing, in whichi 1 Figurel is a sectional `plan view 4of the switch-stand, the section being through the casing on the plane of the line 1 1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a sectional iront elevation, the` partial vertical section through the base and casing being on the plane of the line 2 2 oit' Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is avertical ironteto-rear section,`

FRANII C. iNonRsoN,

theseobjects by the device illusgy,`

at opposite edges oit the top 22.

pression 7 between the bearing 4 and openring 6, and .pedestals 8 at opposite ends of this depression 7; this combination being similar to that of the previous invention above referred to. A single guide-bar 9, of circular cross-section, has its ends in trans 1 verse openings of the pedestals 8, thus eX- tending across the base above the rear part of the depression 7up some distance from the top of the flat middle part 1 of the base. The casing, like that of the mentioned previous invention, comprises the iront shaft bearing 10, rear extension with target-shaftbearing opening 11, and bolt ears 12 regis` tering with the bolt sockets 3 'of the base, and being held down on the base by bolts 13 through ears on the base and casingat opposite sides of the `front bearings 4 and 10, and bolts 13 in the base sockets 3 and up through the ears 12.

The handle-lever le has at its 'reeend the weight-handle 15, and at Vits other end, preterably forged integral with this lever, the crank-shaft 16, lying in the bearings 4 `and 1() and extending back over the front part of thedepression 7. This lever bears on one `lever-rest 14e or the other, as thrown from side to side, which rests will be understood tobe' fastene'dto the ties or head'block's of the switch, not shown.

` This handle-lever arrangement is the same as that of the previous invention. l y

The handle-lever crank 17 comprises a hub 18 iitting` on the inner end of the shaft 16 and held thereon by a key-pin 17 and a transverse pin 17, and near its free end has a itfront-to-rear bearing opening 19 radi`- ally alined with the lever 14. A

,The rack or slide member 20 comprises an upright back 21 and horizontal top 22 ex- 'Y tending back from 'the top of Vthe back 2l. vforward guides 23, parallel to each other at opposite edges of the-back 21, and top guides 24-parallel to ,each other from front to rear lalso, it comprises the lower rear 'side walls offset laterally from the guides. 23 and 24 at opposite sides oi the member, with holes 25 through them in transverse ahnement` which ,iit slidingly on the guide bar` 9; the lateral offsetting oie these walls spacing the bearings thus formed in the holes 25 farther apart and better resisting sidewise tilting or bind-` ingoi the. member 2O as itslides alongthe` Quinny; neng 11i this opening;

between these front guides 23, with itsside's and rear edges finished smooth ,and straight to bear against the finished' ,qiiide tnd bck .t Sultfeess. and it: has, proieetflilg ffem its., fronti srfee themiddle] thereof, the-11' beerne lue' '.217 ftfin'gsnugl'y in thgbeeiinei Orilng.' `19 .-.Of ,fthe handle-ihrer. Crankil; fer?, f

prefer-'abil 5eme' turned Smo'th be. of 'suitz'ible design in "its :upper .fpfart, hotly` oti' inner sides of-the fop guides gein-1".

.ting snugly between them, on a` rniiilis'f SuitedI 102111.@ throw .f the rack .member or. slide.. 20, It `will 'be understoodthatfthebenringl' block may be se' ere ,speeingfvfthe guides fartheij'zapert Kes in1saidpriorfptent," .orfbyredueingfthediameterof theflng'jBLf; e l A, l per :outside rib 4S trmeiit-@renk 111g time Originally '.Clfimfd. L il?, me in cofpending [application i Seriali j` sired. In the present invention;vtheultop gll'idfschve the Same Siecing's'th .rOnt verti'cfil guides 23andfbothhpiirsgLfjguides `may "beu inished With the Same fcuttelgff e v i "especially'infyzirdfthe'farin36 of -theorank eoonoiniing in the manufacture;

The lower endvpart ofthehub 30 of the intermediate cranl29 extends ydowninto and bearsin the base opening, While the targetsha'iftlextends' up through and bears in the opening llff the. osing. A`1ange32l on thehubBO bears on thejbase around theVL opening 6, supporting the crank 29, at' ther proper height totvorkeasily with the vrack or slide 20`by Virtue of its' lug 31 fitting betweeii'ithe' top guides 24.' Pins 33 fix the target-sheft `in the crank hub 30. The bottom ofthe crank hub 30hz`1s'n transverse groove; and the ,direct switch-throWingV .crnl V34 hits `its hub fittingup in the open,-` ing, lwith clutch-teeth B5. engaged in the` groove, While vthe lower end' part of the` tar et-sha'ft 28 extendsthrough thesrnoothvr cen r'lbore'of this hub of the crankBL and ,4772,228gfiled June 13, 1921 ,i annhfny be doivnthrough them near their Vouter ends. .N theirljunotions with the hub, these arms 36 hztyen parts 36 .ofreduced cross-section. Theswltch-connecting rod 37, as here shown,

,siinplyiiesmon thetop/)of one of .thearme 36, with pin'l'BS"ittingfin the arm opening; 75

the pin being retnineydwdoyycnxin operertive.4

' ay jectiii 379,Ah;iyliig an L l' frliii rtingthewpinfa'sfully The merged@ er niet-ledgerimase meer l105 50 at its middle,- hdmitnng'the iupper para of 'theA inside l'rib @Tend "allowing "th'efr Side partsofthe body 44 tto bear against the 'edge of this redge 41; f

' When tlie'L-i'switoh Wrong direction, a very .frequent o'ccnrrenee,

34"that conneoted', to fthfe switch-bythe rod 37"`wi11"be` broken ait its" reduoedpzirtl .36',

uns' aveiidingf' the breakage of `en@ ew-itch 115 rnilso'r of it"hidriefepensiyefand ineCcessible part ofthe stvitch'stnd, ns is Weil? known y in the art. The switch-stand then is re!V paired-by removingthe crank` 34 downward from theehftfQ'S, turning it lSOQlndre- 12o the rod V37 'by iirtue" of 'the-Simple pin held by `the basejproj'e'cti o'n` 39 'and `admitted` through the opeiiingieocording yto my previous invent-ion just before "referred to. 13o

is run Athrough in the,

'substitutedf The omni; is Very 125 Where a breakable pin, rather than a breakable crank, is used, as exemplied in the patent on that invention, the connection of the crank 34 to its shaft 28 may be practically permanent, as shown in that patent. But many users prefer the breakable crank, which requires removal and replacement, as just described, and which, while very dependable if properly connected to the switchstand mechanism when the repair is made, is liable, with the various means of holding it in connection heretofore in use, to be incompletely connected so that it becomes detached underoperating strain, putting the switch out of order and endangering traffic thereover. For instance, where a nut is screwed on the lower endof the shaft 28 under the crank 34, it is very difficult for the workman to reach, and the work must be done largely without actually seeing the connection being made; and under these disadvantages the nut may be screwed on only to a slight degree, not bringing the teeth 35 into adequate mesh, so that they are broken, or else the nut will become unscrewed and allow the crank 34 to drop off,out of mesh with the mechanism in the stand.

With my present invention, the crank 34 is removedby first removing the bracket 42, which is permitted by removal cf the screws 46, out within easy reach of and in full view of the workman. lVith these screws out, the bracket simply is lifted away, allowing the crank 34 to drop elf, and then when this crank is replaced in reverse position, or a newA crank is substituted, as before described, the bracket 42 is replaced withfits fork 45 under the crank 34 and straddling the shaft 28, and its to-p extension 43 on the ledge 41, and the screws 46 replaced, completing the repair very quickly. The fork 45 engaging under the crank 34 and straddling the shaft 28 cannot readily be seen by the workman; but he cannot pass the extension 43 over the ledge 41, ifl the fork does straddle the shaft ,28, without bringing the crank 34 up with its teeth 35 in complete mesh `with the intermediate crank 29. And he cannot replace the screws 46 `unless the fork 45 does straddle the shaft 28. Moreover, the operating strains are powerless to materially loosen the screws 46; and even some looseningof these screws will not permit the crank 34 to drop enough to impair its connection with the intermediate crank 29. And if there is any excessive loosening of this bracket 42, it is readily seen by the trackman who inspects the track and switches; whereas any connection, such as the nut above instanced, in under theV stand, is extremely liable to go unnoticed by the trackman if it becomes loose or detached as before described. Thus, my improved crank-retaining means has its essen.- tial connection in full view for inspection and repairs, and its engagement with the parts retained by it, though -out cf view or convenient reach, is positivelycontrolled by the essential connection in full view, beth regards correct assemblage and as regards maintenance of this assemblage. lt in no way interferes with the operation of the switch-throwing crank 34, which, in all practical stands, always stops with its arm about 45 from the front-to-rear region in ing and more easily working connection between the lever-crank 17 and the rack 20,

Athan the round projection sliding in the rack in that previous invention. Thus the construction is simplified and the cost of mannfacture reduced by eliminating one of the bars 9, however without permitting tilting of the rack, which would cause it to bind upon or become partially disconnected from the adjacent parts; while the increased bearing surface Vimproves the working of the mechanism.

Modifications may occur, and while i have shown and described specifically certain preferred details, l do not wish to be understood as being limited thereto, but what l. claim as new and desire to `secure by Letters Patent is:

l. ln a switch-stand, supporting means, a rack element and a lever operatively mounted on'said means, a crank coaxially connected with said lever in radial alinement therewith and operatively related to said rack, an intermediate crank operatively related to said rack element and having a bearing in said supporting means, a direct-switchthrowing crank coaxially connected with said intermediate crank and offset downwardly therefrom, and a bracket on said supporting means holding said switch-throwing crank in operative connection with said intermediate crank i 2. In a switch-stand, a crank on an upright axis, a direct-switch-throwing crank comprising an arm and a hub integrally connected, said hub operatively engaging coaxially with said first crank, a shaft fitting loosely in said hub and fitting in said first mentioned crank, a support for said cranks, a bracket on said support holding said cranks in operative engagement, a lever, and an operative connection from said leverv to said cranks.

lill) lll) lin, a switch-stand, mechanism comprisingt a lever and a crank coaxially connected inradial alinement,`a rack above said crank having a vertical guideway, said crank come prising a pivoted block sliding in said guideway, an interinediatecrank operatively related 'to said rack thereabove, a direct-switch- Vthrowing crank coaxially connected with said interinediatecranln and means operatively supporting said mechanism. In a switch-stand, mechanism comprising` a lever and a crank coaxially connected in Aradial ,alinemena a rack above said crank having,T vert-ical guideway, :said crank 'come pi'ising' a. pivot-ed block sliding in said Lguideway, an"inter1nediate. crank operatively related to said rackthereabove a direct-switch throwing. crank .coaxiallyV connected with` saiddntermediate crank, means operatively supp'ortingsaid mechanism,` and a bracket on "said supporting means holding` said switch-throwing `crank in operative connection with, said `iifitermediate crank.`

' 5. lin a switch-stand, a base, a lever and a ycrank lcoaiiially connected and mounted on said base, a casing enclosing said crank,`

mechanism enclosed in said casing, comprising a rack "having a vertical guideway, said crankl comprising a pivoted block sliding in said guideway, a single guiding means,

. past the end of said crank and block, and

means on said rack slidingly embracing said guidingmeans, and means extending outside said casing to operatively lconnect saidrack to a switch.

GQ ln a switch-stand, in combination with a' casing, 'and a lever and a switch-connectingrod outside said casing, three cranks,

` one inside said casing and connected to said lever and another outside said casing and tary means comprising an element rectilinearly guided on said rack, and means on saidv rack retentlvely bearing on said bar,

` whereby said rack is guided on said bar and overhangs therefrom for engagement with ysaid element of said rotary means.

8. Ina switch-stand, a rack member comprising an upper part with parallel jaws on its top, downward extensions near opposite Vends of said upper part to receive part of ,a crank lbetween said extensions, and other downward extensions, joined Ato the respective rst mentioned downward extensions? and each having' only asingle circular opening to receive a single 'round :guiding means through the two openings of thet'woT exten-v sions.

below said support, mechanism on said sup-v 9; ln a switch-stand, a support, `a crank port to whicli'said crankis connected for removal downwardly, anda bracket 'remoiT`` ably secured to said support, holding said'- crank up in connection with said mechanism." l0. In a switclifstand, a 'support,"`a"crank"" below said support, mechanismen saidsup# port to which "said crank 'isi connected lvfor removal v downwardly andy by which fs'aidfi crank is turnedthrough a'switcli-throwii`ig4v angle,"` and a bracketremovably secured to" said support outside they area ldefinedby s'aidf angle, holding said crank up inconnection" with said i'nechanisin. `r` f l1; In a switchstand, aV support, a crank' below said support, mechanism? switc-li`throwingdirection, and a bracket removably secured to said support andeirtendy onsaid `sup?` port to which said crank is connectedfor re-fi moval downwardly, swingingfsaid crankV iii 1 ing to said crank substantially parallelv withvthe switch-throwing diiectioiiand lholding said crank up in connection with` said mech-- anisin. Y'

12. In'a switch-stand, a support, a crankbelow` said support, mechanism on said supportto which said crank is connected for re# moval downwardly and comprising` a shaftA extending past the bottom of saidfcrank, 'and abracket securedto saidsupport, compris`V ing a fork straddling saidshattand'holdiiiggf said crank up in connection withfsaid mech` anism. 13. ln a switch-stand, a support, a crank below said support, havingy oppositely exitending' arms,l mechanism `on vsaid `support Ato which said crank is connected for removal downwardly, and a' bracket removably secured to said support and extending to said crank between the areas defined by the switch-throwing angles oi-v the opposite crank arms, holding said crank up .in connection withsaid mechanism.

14. ln a switchfstand, a support, a crank below` said support, mechanism onl said support to which said crank connected rfor removal downwardly, swinging said crank through a switch-throwing' y angle substantially symmetrical to a radius parallel with the track to which the switch-stand is applied, and a bracket remo'i'fably'secured to said support and extending to said crank substantially at right angles tothe track,

holding said crank up in connection with said mechanism.

15. In a switch-stand, a support, a crank below said support, mechanism on said sup` port to which saidV crank is connected for removal downwardly, and a bracket removably secured to said support, out from under said support, and extending under said support and holding said crank up in connection with said mechanism.

16. In a switch-stand, a support, a ledge on said support, a crank below said support, mechanism on said support to which said crank is connected for removal downwardly. and a bracket comprising a top extension removably secured on top ol said ledge, said bracket extending under said support and holding said crank up in connection with said mechanism.

17. In a switcli-stand, a support, a ledge on said support, a crank below said support, mechanism on said support to which said crank is connected for removal downwardly and comprising a shaft extending past the bottom of said crank, and a bracket comprising a top extension removably secured on top of said ledge, said bracket extending under` said support and` comprising a fork straddling said shaft and holding said crank up in connection with said mechanism.

18. In a switch-stand, a support, a crank below said support, mechanism on said support to which said crank is connected Jfor removal downwardly and comprising a shaft extending past the bottom of said crank, and a bracket secured to said support out from under the support and extending under said support and comprising a fork straddling said shaft and holding said crank up in connection with said mechanism.

19. In a switch-stand, a support, a ledge on said support, a crank below said support, mechanism on said support 'comprising rotary means with clutching means, said crank having clutching means operatively engaging with the clutching means of said mechanism and being disengageable by movement downwardly therefrom, said mechanism comprising a shaft extending through said crank and projecting therebelow, a bracket comprising a top extension removably secured on top of said ledge, and a fork comprised in said bracket, straddling said shaft below said crank and bearing up against said crank to hold said crank in clutching engagement with said clutching means of said mechanism.

20. In a switch-stand comprising operating mechanism, a breakable crank under said stand, and a bracket supporting said crank in operative engagement with said mechanism by engagement with said crank under said switch-stand, said bracket eX- tending out trom under said switch-stand and being attached to said stand upon a readily accessible and readily visible part ot said stand, for ready detachment and reattachment in repairing said stand after breakage of said crank.

FRANK C. ANDERSON. 

